A Profitable Imbroglio. By Adrian Hayter. (Duckworth and Co. 6s.)—Anthony
Playfair stumbles upon the secret of some great people, without really knowing what it is, and makes a very good thing out of it, if it is a very good thing to become Professor of " Silver Latinity." The foundation of the professorship, it may be explained, is the blackmail which is extorted from the pockets of the chief of the " ten " who are sharers in the secret. The story of how all this is brought about is well told; when Mr. Hayter gets, so to speak, into his stride, he does very well ; but regarding him as a story-teller, we must say that his action is much better than his plot. And the book has the distinction of being the work of a well-read man. Every now and then we come across some literary allusion, and when we have a piece of Latin it is not misquoted. A "Gaiety girl" is a good rendering for the Plautine festivitas nun. But Mr. Hayter ought to know better than repeat the absurdity of speaking of augurs as smiling when they met. The augurs were dignified officials who took their duties seriously. It should be diviners (haruspez). The " Master " is an obvious likeness, but surely the original would hardly have written to his nominee : "You owe all this to my advocacy. Remember this."
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